I’m Expecting and Vaccinated — Here’s How I Made My Decision

I was hoping for more guidance from my healthcare provider. As a journalist who has spent the past year covering the U.S. government’s pandemic response, I realized just how much I still had to learn. So, as a pregnant woman, I figured it would be wise to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s advice and consult my doctor about getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

His response? “It’s a personal choice.” While I understood his reasoning, I found it less than helpful. For many Americans on the fence about the vaccine, the consensus from medical experts is a clear “Yes!” backed by solid scientific evidence confirming the vaccines’ safety and efficacy. However, for pregnant individuals, the official guidance can be quite perplexing.

Initially, clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccines did not include pregnant or breastfeeding women, adhering to a long-standing practice in medical research. This exclusion exists for valid reasons: the complexities of pregnancy necessitate careful evaluation of both maternal and fetal health. Moreover, the thalidomide tragedy from the 1970s, which resulted in severe birth defects, has made researchers particularly cautious.

In January, the World Health Organization advised against vaccination for pregnant women, a stance that conflicted with the CDC’s more flexible guidance. Fortunately, the WHO has since updated its recommendations to align more closely with the CDC.

All of this makes the vaccine decision particularly challenging for those expecting. How does one navigate such a significant health choice without definitive clinical trial data or clear expert recommendations? While I’m not a medical professional, my background as a journalist allows me to dig into research and consult experts directly. Here’s how I approached my decision.

Establishing a Framework for Decision-Making

I began by establishing a framework for my decision-making. Flipping a coin wasn’t an option when the stakes involve my health and that of my unborn child. Instead, I opted to weigh the risks and benefits, a common practice in medicine. For instance, when deciding on heart surgery, doctors assess the risks associated with the procedure against the potential complications of not undergoing it.

Dr. Sarah Thompson, a professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology at a leading university, emphasized the importance of understanding the thorough evaluation process that regulators undertake when assessing vaccine safety. After extensive trials involving tens of thousands of participants, including a few pregnant individuals, independent experts reviewed the safety data for both the FDA and CDC. Professional organizations, like the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, subsequently recommended that pregnant women be allowed to access the vaccines. “This is a thoroughly vetted process,” Thompson noted. “The data is continuously reviewed by independent scientists.”

Assessing Potential Risks

Next, I looked into the potential risks associated with the vaccine. Although we lack specific clinical trial data for pregnant women, research has shown that the vaccines did not harm pregnant lab animals. Additionally, real-world data is becoming increasingly reassuring: nearly 78,000 pregnant individuals in the U.S. reported receiving the vaccine, and none have shown adverse effects on mothers or infants. “That’s quite convincing evidence of safety,” stated Dr. Emily Chen, an obstetrician and researcher at another prestigious institution. The CDC’s preliminary analysis indicated that vaccinated pregnant women experienced typical side effects and did not face higher birth complications than their unvaccinated counterparts.

Furthermore, experts assert that there is no reason to believe that the mRNA vaccines (like those from Pfizer and Moderna) or the Johnson & Johnson vaccine would adversely affect a pregnancy. The technology used in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been utilized in the Ebola vaccine, which has been deemed safe for pregnant women. Pregnant individuals have safely received other vaccines for years, although those containing live viruses, such as the chickenpox vaccine, are not recommended. The COVID-19 vaccines, however, do not contain live virus; instead, they instruct the body to generate coronavirus proteins, prompting an immune response.

Considering the Risks of Forgoing the Vaccine

Given these encouraging signs, many experts now view the current guidance from organizations like the CDC and ACOG as overly cautious. Additional studies on vaccinated pregnant women are expected to be published soon. “I anticipate we’ll gather more data shortly, allowing us to recommend the vaccine confidently, just as we do for the flu and TDAP vaccines during pregnancy,” Dr. Thompson added.

I also needed to consider the risks of forgoing the vaccine. Studies have indicated that pregnant individuals infected with COVID-19 are more likely to experience severe illness, potentially requiring hospitalization or ventilation. There’s also an increased risk of premature birth, which could lead to health complications for my baby. As over 60 million Americans are now fully vaccinated, including many vulnerable populations, highly contagious variants of the virus are still circulating. “Infection rates remain significant,” Dr. Thompson warned. “You don’t want to be one of the last people exposed when the pandemic is nearing its end.”

Weighing the Benefits

I weighed the potential benefits on both sides. The primary advantage of avoiding the vaccine was the chance of steering clear of unexpected complications. However, the benefits of vaccination seemed more tangible: I would protect myself from severe COVID-19, potentially transfer antibodies to my child—as seen in recent studies—and contribute to community herd immunity, safeguarding those unable to vaccinate due to severe allergies or other reasons. Plus, I would be able to re-engage in society with a significantly reduced risk of transmitting the virus to vulnerable individuals.

Considering my personal circumstances, I realized that fully quarantining until the pandemic was over or until my baby was born was not a viable option for my family. This approach wouldn’t be beneficial for my mental and spiritual well-being. After a year of virtual celebrations, I longed to attend my sister’s college graduation and my cousin’s wedding.

My Decision

Ultimately, I chose to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. I concluded that the clear benefits of vaccination outweighed any potential unknown risks. The proven dangers of contracting COVID-19 during pregnancy, or unknowingly spreading it to others, far surpassed the advantages of adopting a “wait and see” strategy.

I received my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Tuesday and enrolled in the CDC’s v-safe post-vaccination tracker to assist researchers in learning more about the vaccine’s effects on pregnancy and childbirth.

I hope that the data collected from this tracker, alongside upcoming studies, will enable healthcare providers to offer more definitive advice to pregnant patients in the future.

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Summary:

In navigating the complex decision to get vaccinated while pregnant, I weighed the risks and benefits, consulted experts, and ultimately decided that the advantages of vaccination against COVID-19 outweighed any potential unknowns. With compelling evidence supporting vaccine safety for pregnant individuals and the significant risks associated with contracting the virus, I chose to receive the Pfizer vaccine to protect my health and that of my child.